Hotel Check In Shimbashi

The beautiful lobby has a distinctive atmosphere, with an ammonite wall, fossilized wood, and coffee and soda machines. Staff were friendly and professional, and it's in the same building as a family mart and a komeda coffee. The neighborhood felt fun and real, with bars and restaurants all around, though it isn't fancy. It's only about a 3 minute walk straight into the train station. Our room and bathroom were tiny, but the bathroom was super clean.

The room felt like being below deck on a cruise ship, though you could crack the windows open a little for some air. I had booked a city view, but there wasn't one. On the plus side, the location is great, and the onset bath and steam room were a cool bonus. Staff were super friendly and professional, with enough English for basic service.

The onsen and the seamless luggage pickup, after I sent it over from another hotel, were real pluses. The room was bigger than I expected, and the staff were friendly. There's a soft drink machine in the lobby, plus a family mart downstairs and plenty of places to eat nearby. Shimbashi station is about a 6 minute walk away. The room itself felt quite old, and guests with tattoos aren't allowed to use the onsen facility.

There's nothing glamorous about the small room, but that's exactly what it says on the tin, and it's great value. Everything was clean and well maintained. Staff were friendly and helpful, even with my limited Japanese. Each floor has a communal microwave, handy for heating up a bento from the downstairs Family Mart. Just keep in mind that tattoos aren't allowed in the public bath.